Chain



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. -J. L. TAPLIN. CHAIN Patented Apr. 15, 1890.

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(N0 Model) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. L. TAPLINQ CHAIN.

No. 425,467. Patented Apr. 15, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

JOHN L. TAPLIN, OF OIROLEVILLE, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH A. JEFFREY, OF

COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,467, dated April 15, 1890. Application filed November 2'7, 1888. Serial lio. 291,994. (No model.)

To coZZ whom it may concern- Be it known that I, JOHN L. TAPLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Circleville, in the county of Pickaway and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chain s, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of so much of a chain and conveyer as is necessary to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the pintlc. Fig. 4. aperspective of the two-part attachment. Figs. 5 and 6 show modifications.

This invention relates to that class of chains commonly known as drive-chains, which are adapted to run upon sprocket-wheels, and the links of which are therefore made centrally open to receive the spurs of the sprocketwheels. Many chains of this class are provided with attachments or couplers which are pivotally connected with the links for the purpose of elevating or otherwise moving objects or things of many different kinds, and prior to my invention chain-links had been provided with perforated ears to receive the pivots of the couplers, which latter were some times made in the form of hooks; but I believe that heretofore such lugs or cars have proj ected upward from the links-that is to say, Vertically from the horizontal plane in which a chain lies when traversing sprocket-wheels mounted on horizontal shafts.

One part of this invention relates to a centrally-open chain-link adapted to receive a spur or tooth of a sprocket-wheel provided withloosely-connected coupler projectingsidewise-that is to say, laterally from one of its side bars.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and a, A B C is one of the side bars, the part A having a round seat for the pint-1e with a transverse rib or shoulder a upon its outer face, the opposite end having an imvard-projecting sleeve 0, adapted to receive an anti-friction roller. While I prefer to have the rib in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, such location is not indispensable, because it may be arranged upon the opposite or either of the other sides of the pintle-seats and in close proximity thereto. The opposite side barD E F is provided with an outer outward-projecting ear or lug Gr, having a hole g in it. The pintle H has a head at one end, which is flattened or slahbed off, as at 72., so that when in working position. the rib or stop a fits somewhat closely this slabbed-off part and prevents the bolt from turning around in its seat in the end bar, to insure that the wear shall come upon that part of the pintle which is within thesleeve O F. Of course the opposite end of the pintle should be riveted over or otherwise secured against accidental displacement. I

' In order to adapt this chain for use in connection with a carrier, I propose to provide it with a projecting coupler loosely or pivotally connect-ed so as to permit independent motion of either of the two 1ne1nbers.- To

this end I apply orattach to the lug G an arm, preferably a detachable arm-such, for instance, as that, shown in Figs. 1, 2, and l, in which I K is a two-part coupler, preferably cylindrical in cross-section and hollow to secure strength Without undue weight. By preference its engaging walls are formedwith lugs and recesses i 70, which interlock and prevent endwise movements of one part relative to the other, and the part I is further provided with a series of projecting ears, as ati, which engage with the inner surface of the other part 7c. The inner end of the part I is provided with a pin J, which enters the hole g in the ear G of the side bar. The part K is provided with a hole to receive the pin J, the ends of the lugs and the inner ends of the parts J K being preferably rounded to facilitate their swinging about the pin j as a center.

Of course some device should be used to prevent the parts J K from spreading apart to such an extent that either or both might become detached from the lug, and in the drawings I have represented a thiinble or band-for instance, apiece of gas pipe L-fitting somewhat closely over the ends.

InFig. 5 I have shown a modification in which this flexible coupler is composed of two parts having a pin projecting from the lower member, with a hole in the upper member to fit over the pin, all of the parts being solid and rectangular in cross-section, with a bolt 19 passing through the parts N O and holding them together.

In Fig. 6 I have shown another modification, in which the lug Q of the side bar is provided with a throat q, leading inward fromnear the base of the lug to a seat q.

The coupler R is forked at its outer end, and is provided with a pin r, which can be inserted or passed through the throat into the seat when the coupler is placed at a somewhat acute angle, as indicated in dotted lines, the construction of parts being such that when the coupler projects at right angles from the chain, as indicated in full lines, it cannot be disconnected from the ear or lug when in any of the positions which it will ordinarily assume in practical operation.

It is apparent that links of this sort possess many advantages over the well-known solid link, which has earsor lugs projecting vertically therefrom, because, among other things, anentire chain can be made up of my links and run upon ordinary sprocket-wheels, and such chains can be lengthened and shorten ed any number of links. Again, my chain can be run upon ordinary sprocket-wheels, with intermediate tighteners arranged to traverse the opposite side of the chain, which would be impossible with the above-referred-to solid links, or, in fact, with any link in which the couplers project upward from the side bars or are pivoted to perforated lugs, which project upward from either or both of the side bars.

One advantage arising from using the hol- 10W couplers is the facility with which they can be slipped over arms, lugs, or spurs projecting from the thing to be moved, and a desirable loose connection between such parts is facilitated by making the hollow coupler round in cross-section, because it will readily rotate or oscillate about such arm or lug.

Of course either the coupler shown in Figs. 1 to i or in Fig. 5 might have the shank por tion cast in one piece with a fork, and holes through the fork to register with the hole g in the ear, and attached to that car by means of a bolt or rivet passing through both the fork and the ear; but forconvenience of manufacture and putting together and taking apart I prefer to make the coupler as shown in the drawings.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A centrally-open chain-link provided with a loosely-connected coupler projecting sidewise from one of its side bars, as substantially set forth.

2. A centrally-open chain-link provided with a sidewise-proj ecting perforated lug and made in two parts which are semicircular in cross-section, their edges being formed with interlocking parts, substantially as set forth. 6. A chain-link provided with a projecting perforated lug, in combination with a coup ler which is forked at one end and is pivoted to a perforated lug, substantially as set forth. 7. The combination, with a chain-link, of a hollow two-part coupler formed with :interlocking projections upon their adjacent surfaces, substantially as set forth.

8. A chain-link having a two-part coupler pivoted to one of its side bars, substantially as set forth.

9. A chain-link provided with a perforated WVitnesses:

Geo. I-I. FICKARDT, FRED L. FIOKARDT. 

